Tire-mounted step device

Abstract

A tire-mounted step device for allowing a user to reach into the engine compartment of a vehicle for the servicing thereof. The tire-mounted step device includes a step having a main wall and a perimeter wall depending downwardly along a perimeter of the main wall; and also includes a bracket assembly being adjustably and foldably attached to the step; and further includes a brace assembly being pivotally attached to the step and being adapted to engage an exterior of a tire.

I claim:  
     
       1. A tire-mounted step device comprising: 
       a step having a main wall and a perimeter wall depending downwardly along a perimeter of said main wall, said step further including a plurality of eyelets being spacedly attached to said perimeter wall, said eyelets including pairs of said eyelets being opposedly disposed along bottom edges of said perimeter wall;  
       a bracket assembly being adjustably and foldably attached to said step; and  
       a brace assembly being pivotally attached to said step and being adapted to engage an exterior of a tire.  
     
     
       2. A tire-mounted step device as described in  claim 1 , wherein said main wall is generally a grate. 
     
     
       3. A tire-mounted step device as described in  claim 1 , wherein said bracket assembly includes a pair of first elongate members being adjustably fastened to one pair of said eyelets, and also includes second elongate members being hingedly attached to said first elongate members and including pairs of adjustable elongate linkages having holes therein with said elongate linkages of each pair of said elongate linkages being adjustable for adjusting the length of said second elongate members with fastener members being insertable in said holes of said linkages with leaf springs, said bracket assembly further including third elongate members being hingedly attached to said second elongate members. 
     
     
       4. A tire-mounted step device as described in  claim 3 , wherein each of said first elongate members has a bottom portion having a longitudinal slot extending therethrough and being adjustably fastenable with a fastener to one of said eyelets. 
     
     
       5. A tire-mounted step device as described in  claim 4 , wherein said second elongate members are hingedly disposed generally perpendicular to said first elongate members, and said third elongate members are hingedly disposed generally perpendicular to said second elongate members thus forming a hook-shaped member for hooking about the exterior of the tire, said third elongate members being collapsible upon said second elongate members and said second elongate members being collapsible upon said first elongate members. 
     
     
       6. A tire-mounted step device as described in  claim 1 , wherein said brace assembly includes arm members having first ends which are pivotally attached to one pair of said eyelets, and also includes tire-engaging members being attached to second ends of said arm members and being biasedly engaged about the tire, and further includes a spring member and a linking member interconnecting said arm members to bias said tire-engaging members about the tire. 
     
     
       7. A tire-mounted step device as described in  claim 6 , wherein each of said arm members has angled first and second end portions relative to a main portion, and also has eyelets at said first and second ends. 
     
     
       8. A tire-mounted step device as described in  claim 7 , wherein said linking member has a hook member at one end which is hooked to said eyelet at said second end of one of said arm members, and said spring member is attached to another end of said linking member and is hooked to said eyelet at said second end of another of said arm members. 
     
     
       9. A tire-mounted step device as described in  claim 8 , wherein said tire-engaging members are generally stub shafts extending outwardly from said second end portions of said arm members.